The CDC released their data on the Delta variant. Some really important stuff in here.
To get R<1 with Delta, we'd need about 95% fully vaccinated. With universal masking, we need 40-80% vaxxed...hence the new recommendation. This is why even states with high vax rates are seeing case counts starting to climb. Mask up!
Vaccines continue to provide excellent but not perfect protection against Delta:
- 25x less likely to die
- 25x less likely to get severe disease
- 8x less likely to get symptoms...
BUT, if a vaxxed person does get symptoms, with Delta they're now likely to be as contagious as an unvaxxed person with symptoms. Delta's high viral load makes everybody very contagious.
No sign of waning protection at 4+ months after 2nd dose.
Vax protection is weaker in the elderly and immunocompromised.